Michael Schnabel presents 'Nachtstücke' and 'Weisses Land' - natural mountainscapes, museum interiors and the abstract in Osthaus Museum

Michael Schnabel's nocturnal photographs of mountainscapes hit the art world in 2003 like a bomb. His pictures showed mountains by night, almost entirely overshadowed and coated with darkness. Yet, in order to detect the true beauty that lies beneath the veil, one has to take the time to take a close look and adjust one’s eyes to the darkness.

In his pictures, he captures the traces of light in the night over hours on end. The Alpine pictures are followed by ocean waves and museum rooms, things we thought we'd recognise from afar become the stuff of alien worlds.

‘Mountains, water, sky and most recently the museum interior are the photographer Michael Schnabel's preferred motifs. Light and the absence of light create the formal frame in which his works turn into the optical phenomenon they are. The intention is not a scenic depiction but an absolute concentration of pure photography, seemingly pure and unaltered. If we would cease to just look out for the plain motifs in the works but try and resonate with its philosophical core, we would probably notice that Schnabel tends to move away from the object he is depicting. Yet, the material is never eliminated as a materialist entity but rather studied. In an interview, Schnabel had the following to say: “I wanted to create a picture of mountains that is different from established perspectives.” (Dr. Tayfun Belgin, quoted from ‘Die Welt in ihrer Erscheinung.’)

Michael Schnabel’s new series 'White Country' navigates the marginal line between abstraction and the definite.

The Osthaus Museum presents a total of 52 works, the first major museum exhibition by the multi-award winning photographer. GoSee editor tip: the exhibition is accompanied by a must-have catalogue.

Michael Schnabel - Nachtstücke und Weißes Land
(night pieces and white land)
Photographs from 2001 - 2010

11 September until 6 November 2011

Osthaus Museum Hagen
Museumsplatz 3 , 58095 Hagen
www.osthausmuseum.de

Following its re-opening, the Osthaus Museum Hagen features works from the early classical modern era and expressionism to the 'Neue Sachlichkeit'. Also, the museum regularly hosts special exhibitions, which focus on specific artists from the classic modern era, contrasting them with contemporary art production and urging young artists to get involved in the dialogue and discussions. The former Folkwang Museum space has been restored and the renovated interiors by Jugendstil artist Henry van de Velde provide an extra excuse to visit.